Sports
VIDEO: Boys Hoops Nipped by Wilmington at Home
The Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School boys basketball team lost for the first time at home this season.
A would-be game-winning basket was ruled too late for the buzzer in a wild finish to the Generals boys basketball game against Wilmington Tuesday night at .
Hamilton-Wenham's Colin Kenny picked up a loose ball with 0.3 seconds left in the game and made a lay-up, but the referee waived off the basket, giving a 54-53 victory to the Wilmington High School Wildcats.
In a match-up of the top two teams in the Cape Ann League, Wilmington sneaked out of the building with its 10th win and a spot in the post-season tournament.
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The Generals (9-2) lost for the first time this season on their home court. Disappointment would be an understatement for how the team felt after the game.
"I told the kids, we had four shots underneath the basket and they all rolled off the rim," Generals Head Coach Doug Hoak said, referring to a wild scramble for a bucket in the final minute, when three Generals missed a potential game winner.
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Senior Pat Hendrickson led the Generals with 19 points, but the Wildcats adjusted defensively to his red-hot shooting after the first quarter.
"We played tough defense, rebounded the basketball and that's what won the game," Wilmington Head Coach Joe Maiella said.
Wilmington's Vinnie Scifo had a hot hand all night and led all scorers with 26 points.
"He's a prime-time player, stepping up making big shot after big shot," Maiella said.
The Generals will play three straight road games before their next chance to defend their home court.